So, I experienced a happy accident in this week's anime itinerary. I went in search of Read or Die, the OVA of Hideyuki Kurata's light novel series. Not knowing the full development history of his work, I began watching the TV show adapted from the partially-related sequel manga, Read or Dream. By the time I noticed my mistake, I had already gotten deep into Read or Dream and decided that it merits its own entry in Anime Friday. I'll certainly return to the original Read or Die some other week, but I feel compelled to give Dream its due.
Right off the bat, I knew there was something special about Read or Dream. Maybe it was the pleasant jazz soundtrack or the unusually placid pacing. As I watched each episode, I couldn't believe how close the show got to "boring" without actually being boring. Instead, it was merely subdued and careful. After months of watching shows and movies that run at a rocket-fuel clip, it was incredibly refreshing to spend a week with the quirky Paper Sisters from Hong Kong.
As I've stated before, I really enjoy the tone carried over into anime adapted from light novels, or in this case a manga penned by a writer who specializes in light novels. Though it may seem counter-intuitive to utilize animation for such a purpose, I like that these stories are more character-driven than overtly visual. Like Haruhi, these characters have a depth and subtlety that are conspicuously absent in most anime. This serves to give an emotional resonance to the action scenes when they finally happen.
As for that action, the world Kurata developed for his stories is unique, to say the least. Where most anime rely on super-demons and extreme technology, the Read series coasts on a minor alternate history seasoned with a conceit of magic realism. The British Empire never completely collapsed in this world and there are quiet magics, like the ability of some to manipulate paper in powerful ways, that aren't kept secret from the public at large. Not only is this a one-of-a-kind idea, it also affords a delightful book-addiction to round out the Sisters. Watching the stoic Maggie act like a heroin fiend about novels never gets old. Listening to her groan that "there's nothing to read for tonight" gave me flashbacks of Requiem for a Dream, only not in a disturbing way.
Throughout my viewing experience, I couldn't shake the feeling that I was in a hotel. Quite literally, in fact. It felt like a stopover, like I was being given reprieve from what promises to be an otherwise steady stream of very busy animation and complicated plots. I'm certain that a time will come when I'm watching another anime for this project and I'll start longing for another episode of Read or Dream just to ease the tension.
Comprehension: 9/10- I mostly got it. I thought it was a nice misdirect placing so much focus on the writer Nenene in the beginning. The anime-watcher in me kept waiting for her bored, depressed world to get rocked by some incredible new power or responsibility. Instead, the focus shifted to the Paper Sisters and Nenene was relegated to straightman.
Enjoyment: 8/10- The voice acting was spotty, though still worth the dub for Maggie's mumble alone. I dug the ease and the intimacy, if only for a change of pace. When the fight scenes actually started to get regular, they were loaded with an usually cerebral tone. A villain who attacks with complex acoustic science, in a way that isn't as dumb as that sounds? Count me in.
Improvement of Understanding: 4/10- As much as I liked it, there's not much here I didn't learn before. I already know that I like the light novel stuff and it's a no-brainer to prefer innovation over routine. I'd love some suggestions from you readers for other low-key, low-stress, not-silly anime... if only to act as a palate cleanser in between monster fights with magical schoolgirls.
Next Week: Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex
